This week, all eyes will be on the U.S. Labor Department’s Friday release of July employment numbers, as an especially strong showing for the country’s workforce could be seen as further proof that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in September. This week also brings a look at Disney’s most recent fiscal quarter, which should be buoyed by a few strong showings at the box-office. In addition to other major companies’ quarterly earnings, the Greek stock market starts trading again this week after a long layoff, and viewers will get their popcorn ready for the first Republican presidential debate, starring “The Donald.”

Here’s what you need to know to start your week.

1. July employment numbers

U.S. markets will be watching Friday’s monthly employment report closely after Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen said she wants to see at least “some” improvement in the nation’s job growth before the central bank implements its long-anticipated interest rate hike, which could come as soon as next month. The U.S. Labor Department is expected to report on Friday that the economy added 222,000 new jobs in July, with the unemployment rate staying flat at 5.3%.

2. Fairy-tale earnings for Disney?

It’s been a blockbuster year for Walt Disney’s film division and the success of films like The Avengers: Age of Ultron should help boost third-quarter earnings for the “Mouse House” on Tuesday. Disney DIS is expected to beat Wall Street’s expectations for quarterly profits, with the summer season meaning higher revenue from the company’s parks and resorts unit. One area of concern is Disney’s cable channels business, which includes ESPN and has been hurt by the cord-cutting trend, much like the rest of the industry. And Disney isn’t the only media giant reporting quarterly earnings this week, with CBS Corp. CBS, 21st Century Fox FOX, and Discovery Communications DISCA also posting their latest results.

3. Earnings bonanza

The quarterly earnings bonanza continues this week, with the country’s second-largest drugstore company, CVS Health CVS reporting second-quarter numbers on Tuesday. CVS is expected to beat analysts’ expectations in terms of revenue, though the company’s sales growth has taken a hit since it halted sales of tobacco products last year. Health insurer Aetna AET also reports second-quarter results on Tuesday. The company recently announced an agreement to buy smaller rival Humana HUM in a $37 billion deal that represents the latest example of consolidation in the health insurance industry. Other companies reporting earnings this week include Dish Network DISH, Sprint S, cereal company Kellog K, Molson Coors Brewing TAP, and video game maker Activision Blizzard ATVI.

4. Greek stocks

Greece’s stock market reopens on Monday after being closed for more than a month. The Athens stock exchange will open with restrictions for domestic investors amid grueling negotiations between Greece’s leaders and its euro zone creditors over the troubled country’s proposed third bailout. Meanwhile, Ukraine is also looking to reach an agreement with its creditors this week. The Eastern European nation sees the end of this week as the “absolute last deadline” for a debt restructuring deal with bondholders led by the International Monetary Fund.

5. First Republican presidential debate

Here we go . . . The massive field of Republican presidential hopefuls gathers in Cleveland on Thursday with the idea being that they will face off in a few rounds earnest, thoughtful political discourse. Of course, many of the people tuning into the first Republican debate of the 2016 election cycle will be looking for something a bit more … lively. That’s to be expected with billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump leading all contenders in the polls despite making headlines not only by taking frequent jabs at his rivals (like calling Senator Lindsey Graham “an idiot”) but also for disparaging comments he has made about Mexicans, the latter of which resulted in a number of corporate partners cutting ties with Trump.

Business Insider reported that his profile page was removed from WWE.com, and that the pro wrestler’s merchandise has been removed from its online store. The organization has taken him off its online Hall of Fame, too.

The WWW released a statement blasting Hogan for making insensitive remarks in an audio file that was recently released: “WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide,” it said.

Hogan released a statement to People.com about using racist language in the past:

Eight years ago I used offensive language during a conversation. It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.

This is not who I am. I believe very strongly that every person in the world is important and should not be treated differently based on race, gender, orientation, religious beliefs or otherwise. I am disappointed with myself that I used language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.

Hogan has also been embroiled in a controversy over a sex tape in which he’s featured and that Gawker Media published in 2012.

Hogan tweeted this message to his fans:

In the storm I release control,God and his Universe will sail me where he wants me to be,one love. HH

Hollywood is impeccably good at turning a profit on insipid fads. In the five years since Universal Pictures released the animated film Despicable Me, a cultish cottage industry has sprung up around the Minions, the film’s manic yellow lozenges who ultimately proved lucrative enough to earn their own spinoff. They’re globally ubiquitous -- you have Minion Tic Tacs, Minion-themed weddings in Britain, a curious Minion-inspired burger at McDonald’s restaurants in Hong Kong -- and the producers are laughing all the way to the bank.

It’s not terribly surprising, then, that Sony Pictures Animation will be making a movie about emoji, the delightful little ideograms you use to caption your Instagrams or pepper your messages. The planned project, Deadline reports, comes after a supposedly heated bidding process between Sony, Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures that culminated in a deal in the high six figures. There’s money to be made in twee hieroglyphics.

Or maybe it’s simply low-hanging fruit, given that the emoji library is less a typeface and more a means of illustrating the world at large. Your cast, setting and props are ready to go. The ensemble could be colossal: Apple’s emoji library is populated by 93 individual little yellow people, 15 families of four, 10 happy couples and seven anthropomorphic cats. Santa Claus could make an appearance. The library’s latest iteration offers 42 national flags, so it could be set anywhere -- Israel! South Korea!

In any event, the movie won’t be completely revolutionary. The emoji-as-medium approach to filmmaking has earned some mileage as a music video strategy already, the best example thus far coming in Beyonc? and Jay-Z’s “Drunk in Love.”

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/23/emoji-movie-sony-pictures-animation/feed/0Hong Kong Rugby Sevens: beer, costumes and, somewhere, a resultrolandattimeincLeBron James scores a major Hollywood dealhttp://fortune.com/2015/07/23/lebron-james-warner-bros/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/23/lebron-james-warner-bros/#commentsThu, 23 Jul 2015 14:20:00 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1218543]]>Basketball legend LeBron James has a career in film and television pretty much prepared after he hangs up his basketball jersey.

James has already proven his acting chops, such as in the recently released movie “Trainwreck.” But the deal with Warner Bros. mints him as a budding entertainment industry executive.

"To be able to partner with Warner Bros. will allow me to do some things I've always dreamed of," James told the newspaper.

James and business partner Maverick Carter started SpringHill Entertainment in 2013 and were looking for a studio partnership before signing with Warner Bros.

"This is not a vanity deal," Kevin Tsujihara, Warner Bros.’ CEO, told the paper. "Warner Bros. always needs to be thinking about bringing fresh perspectives and diverse voices into the company."

The deal will enable Warner Bros. and SpringHill to co-produce and co-own all created content. The specifics of the deal weren’t released, however.

"This is not about making a movie or a couple of TV shows," Carter told the publication. "We want to build a company."

News of the deal had news outlets speculating that "Space Jam 2" may be in the works -- a sequel to the 1996 classic movie Space Jam from Warner Bros. that starred Michael Jordan.

There have been other NBA stars who’ve cemented their status as business powerhouses. Magic Johnson has a burgeoning business, which Fortune wrote about last year.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/23/lebron-james-warner-bros/feed/0Lebron JamessnyderfortuneThe New Yorker’s Donald Trump cover is perfecthttp://fortune.com/2015/07/17/new-yorker-donald-trump-cover/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/new-yorker-donald-trump-cover/#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 16:15:19 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1211753]]>Everywhere you look, you can’t escape Donald Trump these days. He’s atop the polls for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, he’s being spoofed by The Simpsons, he’s been dropped by his business partners over unsavory comments and the list goes on. Heck, The Huffington Post even announced recently that it won’t include Trump in its political coverage. Instead, he’s being relegated to the Entertainment section because he’s just a political “sideshow,” according to two top editors.

The New Yorker, maybe surprisingly, is the latest to join the frenzy and stir the pot. How? With an upcoming cover featuring none other than Trump. The catch: He’s bellyflopping into a pull of other Republican presidential nominees in a politically-charged lampooning of his effect on the race. (Hint: He’s made a huge, disruptive splash).

The famed publication posted a teaser of the cover online and to its Twitter. Here it is:

“Donald Trump has entered the fray of Republican Presidential candidates with all the grace of a bully doing cannonballs and belly flops at the local swimming pool," according to Barry Blitt about his cover, which comes out next week, in a post on the publication’s website. "I'll certainly be watching the first televised debate, just around the corner, on August 6th. Trump never fails to provide hours of slack-jawed amazement."

Can’t get enough of the Donald? Fortune recently spoke with winners of Trump’s reality television show, The Apprentice, to hear their thoughts on his leadership qualities.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/new-yorker-donald-trump-cover/feed/0Donald Trump 07.11.2015snyderfortuneYouTube advertisers are spending way more than usualhttp://fortune.com/2015/07/17/youtube-advertisers-google/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/youtube-advertisers-google/#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 16:11:10 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1211827]]>People are watching way more YouTube than ever before, and the advertising dollars are following.

Adweek reported that YouTube’s mobile users spent more 40 minutes per session on average in the second quarter, an increase to the tune of 50% year over year.

In addition, there are more advertisers taking an interest in YouTube and they are, unsurprisingly, also spending more money. Advertisers rose 40% for the video platform, while the top 100 advertisers spent 60%, according to the publication.

“Our strong Q2 results reflect continued growth across the breadth of our products, most notably core search, where mobile stood out, as well as YouTube and programmatic advertising,” according to CFO Ruth Porat in a statement. “We are focused every day on developing big, new opportunities across a wide range of businesses. We will do so with great care regarding resource allocation.”

YouTube, which has 1 billion users, boasts having more 18-49-year-olds using the site than those who subscribe to cable. “Advertisers want to reach these audiences, and our focus is on the opportunity to get larger budgets moved to YouTube,” according to Porat.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/youtube-advertisers-google/feed/0YouTube "Dear White People" Reception - 2014 Park CitysnyderfortuneHulu might be introducing an ad-free optionhttp://fortune.com/2015/07/17/hulu-ad-free-option/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/hulu-ad-free-option/#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 15:43:28 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1211793]]>Hulu users who hate watching ads, you may be in luck. The streaming service may soon unveil a version that gets rid of advertisements. The catch: It’s for a price.

The Wall Street Journalreported that the new feature may be planned for as early as this fall, with it costing anywhere from $12 to $14 per month. The move comes as Hulu is attempting to become more competitive with Netflix, which currently enjoys the lion’s share of the television streaming market.

The option apparently has a codename of its own, “NOAH,” which stands for “No Ads Hulu, according to the publication, citing people familiar with the matter.

The number of Hulu subscribers pales in comparison to Netflix. The service, which is owned in part by Disney, 21st Century Fox, and Comcast, said it has about 9 million subscribers to Netflix’s 65 million. Meanwhile, Hulu may generate anywhere from $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion in revenue in 2015. Last year, Netflix garnered $5.5 billion, according to the newspaper.

Hulu did, however, make waves earlier this year when it announced it would start streaming all Seinfeld episodes.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/hulu-ad-free-option/feed/01280-hulusnyderfortuneDisneyland is celebrating its 60th anniversary todayhttp://fortune.com/2015/07/17/disneyland-60-today/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/disneyland-60-today/#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 15:16:55 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1211699]]>Disney's iconic Disneyland theme park is celebrating its 60th birthday today. The original Disney DIS attraction was unveiled in Anaheim, Calif., on July 17, 1955, with the help of none other than Walt Disney.

The park reportedly cost $17 million to build and spanned 160 acres. Fast forward to today, and Disneyland brings in over 14 million visitors a year who spend close to $3 billion, according to History.com.

Disneyland also reportedly took 20 years to build.

“It started with my taking my two kids around to the zoos and parks,” Disney said at the time, according to CNN. “I’d be sitting there trying to figure out what you could do that would be more imaginative. Then when I built the new studio in Burbank, I got the idea for a three-dimensional thing that people could actually come and visit. I felt that there should be something built where the parents and the children could have fun together.”

Children on giant teacup ride at Walt Disney’s theme park, Disneyland.Photograph by Allan Grant -- The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

“Ever since Disneyland Park opened on July 17, 1955, the Disneyland Resort has been an unforgettable destination for families to return to, again and again--a source of joy for the entire world and a place where innovation has continued to inspire an exciting future,” Disney said in a statement.

In other Disney news, the company recently announced new details of its plan to open a theme park in Shanghai, China.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Disneyland's 60th anniversary pins were given out today. They were actually given out yesterday. Also, the park will close at 12 a.m. PT today and will not be open for 24 hours, as previously stated in the article.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/disneyland-60-today/feed/0Disneyland 1955snyderfortuneChildren on giant teacup ride at Walt DiTom Selleck just paid $21,000 to settle a California water disputehttp://fortune.com/2015/07/16/tom-selleck-water-settlement/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/16/tom-selleck-water-settlement/#commentsThu, 16 Jul 2015 15:41:44 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1209771]]>Tom Selleck has paid $21,000 to settle a lawsuit that alleged he took water that didn’t belong to him from a Southern California water district.

The New York Postreported that Selleck, star of the TV show “Magnum, P.I.,” wrongly took water to use for his 60-acre ranch. A private investigator had reportedly found that there was a tanker truck with water from a fire hydrant from a neighboring district heading to the ranch. Selleck had been accused of stealing water as far back as 2013, according to Time.

“Underpinning these laws is the concept of basic fairness," said Thomas Slosson, who is president of the Calleguas Municipal Water District, after a vote accepting the $21,000 settlement. "That is, residents and businesses within the district - the rightful users of district water -- paid for the construction, maintenance and operation of the public works necessary to meet their water needs, not those of other landowners outside Calleguas' legal boundaries."

The $21,000 covers the money spent for the private investigator.

The news comes as California is continuing to weather a severe drought.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/16/tom-selleck-water-settlement/feed/0PowerWomen 2013 AwardssnyderfortuneWhy this star-studded cast just slammed Costco over chickenshttp://fortune.com/2015/07/16/costco-chickens/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/16/costco-chickens/#commentsThu, 16 Jul 2015 14:52:13 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1209700]]>Brad Pitt and Bill Maher are not happy with Costco right now. The reason? Caged hens. The two stars charged Costco, the discount retailer, with boosting animal cruelty thanks to the conditions in which it keeps it chickens.

The Associated Press reported that Pitt sent a letter to Costco’s CEO recently asking the chain to change its ways.

“As you know, these birds producing eggs for your shelves are crammed five or more into cages that are not large enough for even one hen to spread her wings,” Pitt wrote. Maher’s tactic? A New York Times editorial published last week.

“Multiple investigations into battery cages document animals with deteriorated spinal cords, some who have become paralyzed and then mummified in their cages,” according to Maher in the article. “Imagine cramming five cats or dogs into tiny cages, hundreds of thousands in each shed, for their entire lives. That would warrant cruelty charges, of course. But when the egg industry does it to hens, it’s considered business as usual.”

In 2007, the company reportedly said it wanted to stop caging its chickens in this way, although the system still stands, Maher pointed out.

Costco, however, has discussed its practices in the past. In June, the company wrote in a statement that there are “vigorous debates about animal welfare and laying hens.” It added, “Some, such as the Humane Society, advocate that hens be ‘cage free,’ and not confined in cages. Some advocate that cages are safer for hens.”

Fortune has reached out to Costco for further comment.

Interestingly, Costco reportedly loses $40 million per year thanks to keeping its rotisserie chicken prices low.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/16/costco-chickens/feed/0Costco, Wal-Mart and TargetsnyderfortuneThis is how much sales rose for Amazon on Prime Dayhttp://fortune.com/2015/07/16/amazon-prime-day-sales/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/16/amazon-prime-day-sales/#commentsThu, 16 Jul 2015 13:53:42 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1209648]]>Despite the negative reaction on social media to Amazon’s AMZN offerings during the first-ever Prime Day Wednesday to celebrate the retailer's 20th anniversary, sales apparently soared.

In fact, sales were up 80% in the U.S. and 40% in Europe, according to ChannelAdvisor and CNN Money.

Amazon even boasted that sales yesterday surpassed last year’s Black Friday, although it’s unclear exactly what figure Jeff Bezos’ company scored. It did, however, discuss the number of a few items sold throughout the day: “Prime members have bought tens of thousands of Fire TV Sticks, 35,000 Lord of the Rings Blu-Ray sets, 28,000 Rubbermaid sets, and 4,000 Echos in 15 minutes. The Kate Spade purse was gone in less than a minute. The 1.2K of $999 TVs sold out in less than 10 minutes,” the company said in a statement.

However, Amazon earned a fair amount of criticism for its “Lightning Deals” and the products it chose to discount, CNN reported: “We have years of experience with these types of events and we stagger the deals to make sure the fun will last through tonight,” the company shot back in a statement.

On Wednesday, Amazon announced the upcoming release of its first-ever original film, which will be directed by Spike Lee.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/16/amazon-prime-day-sales/feed/0snyderfortuneAmazon is working with Spike Lee for its first original moviehttp://fortune.com/2015/07/15/amazon-spike-lee/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/15/amazon-spike-lee/#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 20:49:27 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1209293]]>Amazon AMZN announced Wednesday that it’ll be creating its first-ever original film.

It will be Spike Lee’s next major movie and has been dubbed Chi-Raq. According to Amazon’s press release, the film features an all-star cast, including Nick Cannon, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Hudson, and Samuel L. Jackson.

“Chi-Raq will shed light on the serious, but often overlooked issue of violence in inner cityChicago,” Amazon said.

"Spike Lee is one of the most distinct and visionary filmmakers of our time," said Ted Hope, who heads up Amazon’s motion picture production, in a statement. "It would be impossible to find a better filmmaker with whom to launch our studio.”

"I'm honored to be part of the film that will launch Amazon Studios and to tell a story that is so important,” said Spike Lee in a statement. “Please don't be fooled by the title of Chi-Raq, this new Spike Lee joint will be something very special. We have assembled a stellar cast.”

Amazon first announced it’d be creating original films in January. The e-commerce giant said at the time that is has plans to produce 12 films a year.

The announcement coincides with Amazon’s first Prime Day in celebration of its 20th anniversary.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/15/amazon-spike-lee/feed/02013 Summer TCA Tour - Day 2snyderfortuneHasbro is selling the factory where it made its iconic Monopoly gamehttp://fortune.com/2015/07/15/hasbro-monopoly-factory/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/15/hasbro-monopoly-factory/#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 20:14:07 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1209223]]>Hasbro HAS is selling the factory that for years manufactured its iconic Monopoly board game.

The plant, which is located in Massachusetts, will be sold to card maker based in Belgium called Cartamundi, which will continue to employ the factory’s workers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The move comes as many of Hasbro’s toys are already made overseas and Hasbro is in the middle of transitioning itself from “a toy and game company to an organization delivering global brand experiences,” according to the company’s CEO Brian Goldner, as reported by the Boston Globe.

In other Monopoly news, Entertainment Weekly reported earlier this year that a Monopoly movie is in the works with Lionsgate. In February, Hasbro hid real money in French special editions of the game in honor of its 80th anniversary.

Hasbro first acquired the Monopoly maker Milton Bradley in 1984.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/15/hasbro-monopoly-factory/feed/0Hasbro Monopoly 2013snyderfortuneHere’s why Neil Young is giving up on streaming musichttp://fortune.com/2015/07/15/neil-young-streaming/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/15/neil-young-streaming/#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 17:29:09 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1208982]]>The Canadian singer-songwriter legend Neil Young, 69, doesn’t want to have anything to do with streaming his music anymore. Young, a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, wrote on his Facebook page that it isn’t about the money, but rather about streaming quality.

“Streaming has ended for me,” he began the Facebook note, which garnered nearly 3,000 likes after an hour on Wednesday. “I hope this is ok for my fans.”

“It’s not because of the money, although my share (like all the other artists) was dramatically reduced by bad deals made without my consent,” Young continued. “It’s about sound quality. I don’t need my music to be devalued by the worst quality in the history of broadcasting or any other form of distribution. I don’t feel right allowing this to be sold to my fans. It’s bad for my music.”

But Young did leave the door open for having his music streamed online once again in the future. “When the quality is back, I’ll give it another look. Never say never,” he wrote.

The move comes after Taylor Swift made waves in the industry by taking some of her albums off of popular streaming platforms and also demanding more pay for artists.

On a related note, the much-hyped Apple Music was confirmed to be of less quality than some of its competition in June. Music streams on the service at about 256kpbs, which is less than the 320kpbs of its competitiors.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/15/neil-young-streaming/feed/0British Summer Time 2014 - July 12thsnyderfortuneDisney’s Bob Iger shows off plans for Shanghai theme parkhttp://fortune.com/2015/07/15/disney-shanghai/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/15/disney-shanghai/#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 13:55:46 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1208472]]>Disney DIS is revealing new details about its new theme park in Shanghai, the company’s first in mainland China.

CEO Bob Iger on Tuesday revealed new blueprints for Shanghai Disney Resort, which broke ground in 2011. In a blog post, Disney said that the Shanghai destination will include six themed lands and “blend the magic of Disney and the cultural spirit and beauty of China.”

"We are building something truly special here in Shanghai that not only showcases the best of Disney's storytelling but also celebrates and incorporates China's incredibly rich heritage to create a one-of-a-kind destination that will delight and entertain the people of China for generations to come," said Iger in a statement. "We are taking everything we've learned from our six decades of exceeding expectations - along with our relentless innovation and famous creativity to create a truly magical place that is both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese."

The six lands in the Shanghai location will include Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle, Mickey Avenue and the Gardens of Imagination. The park is set to open in the Spring of next year.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/15/disney-shanghai/feed/0Bob IgersnyderfortuneWatch out, YouTube! Facebook wants your video dollarshttp://fortune.com/2015/07/10/facebook-youtube-music-vidoes/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/10/facebook-youtube-music-vidoes/#commentsFri, 10 Jul 2015 18:23:02 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1205080]]>Facebook has its sights set on YouTube once again as it seeks to grab a slice of the music video business, The New York Timesreports, citing people familiar with the talks.

The social media giant has reportedly been in discussion with major record companies to get the licensing deals required to post music videos on users’ news feeds, the publication reported.

If the deal moves forward, Facebook FB users can expect to see music videos handpicked by the music companies as they browse through posts from friends and family. Facebook would then monitor how the music videos perform, while sharing ad revenue with the music companies. Plus, Facebook is apparently offering more money than YouTube does in its revenue-sharing model.

The move by Facebook comes as the social media site has ramped up its video offerings in recent weeks. For instance, the company added new options for marketers using video in July in another bid to take on YouTube, which is owned by Google GOOG.

For more on Facebook’s video plans, check out this Fortune feature from April.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/10/facebook-youtube-music-vidoes/feed/0Facebook privacy 2015snyderfortuneESPN lost this huge number of subscribers in a yearhttp://fortune.com/2015/07/10/espn-loses-subscribers/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/10/espn-loses-subscribers/#commentsFri, 10 Jul 2015 15:58:53 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1204908]]>ESPN, long championed for its money-making ability in the sports broadcasting arena, is feeling pressure, as droves of its subscribers flee the service.

The Wall Street Journalreports that the sports behemoth has lost 3.2 million subscribers in a little over a year, citing Nielsen data. The reason: Subscribers are dropping cable and using streaming services, and there’s more competition around. ESPN currently reaches 92.9 million households.

But while it has lost a chunk of subscribers, the publication reported that ESPN is paying more money than ever to secure rights to sports games and matches.

Last year, for example, as part of a renewal deal with the National Basketball Association ESPN agreed to triple its average annual fees from $485 million to about $1.47 billion, the Journal reported.

Owned by Disney DIS, ESPN is expected to make up 25% of the parent company’s total profit in 2015, according to the newspaper.

"We are constantly looking at the cost side of our business and calibrating that against our expectations for the future," Ed Durso, ESPN’s executive vice president of administration, told the publication. "Regardless of what the future holds, we're incredibly well-positioned to adapt."

In the clip, Homer finds himself whisked away into Trump’s hair. “It's as as blond as a golden marmoset yet also grey as a long-dead donkey,” Homer narrates, as he finds himself inside his hair.

You’ll have to watch it yourself to understand just how crazy this video is:

Trump has been in hot water since delivering a controversial campaign announcement speech that was regarded by many as offensive towards various minority groups. Several major businesses, including Macy’s and NBC, have cut ties with the real estate mogul over his comments.

For more on Trump, here are five businesses of his that have failed over the years. And here’s what winners of “The Apprentice” have said about his leadership qualities.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/08/donald-trump-simpsons/feed/0Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C Groundbreaking CeremonysnyderfortuneHere’s why Disney is removing this statue from a theme parkhttp://fortune.com/2015/07/08/cosby-disney-statue/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/08/cosby-disney-statue/#commentsWed, 08 Jul 2015 15:35:14 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1202909]]>Disney is removing a statue of Bill Cosby from a theme park in Florida after the Associated Press forced the release of a 2005 testimony from the embattled comedian in which he admits to obtaining a drug to give to women with the intent of having sex with them.

The bronze statue has been on display in Disney’s Academy of Televisions Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza in its Hollywood Studio theme park. On Tuesday night Disney DIS said it planned to remove the statue after the park closes.

Dozens of women have accused Cosby of sexual assault in recent months. In the past year, an online petition was started to remove Cosby’s bust from the theme park, garnering nearly 300 signatures.

“In light of recent circumstances it is prudent that the bust of actor Bill Cosby be removed from Disney’s Florida theme park,” the Change.org petition reads. “The Disney name is synonymous with family-friendly entertainment and with Mr. Cosby in the media daily facing accusations of sexual assault with the number of victims ever-climbing, it is inappropriate for Disney Parks to have a replica of Mr. Cosby’s likeness on display.”

The 77-year-old comedian and actor has seen his shows and live appearances on networks -- and services such as Netflix -- postponed or canceled due to the allegations.

]]>http://fortune.com/2015/07/08/cosby-disney-statue/feed/0Bill Cosby bust Disney World 2015snyderfortuneDisneyland could be about to get biggerhttp://fortune.com/2015/07/07/disney-disneyland-anaheim/
http://fortune.com/2015/07/07/disney-disneyland-anaheim/#commentsTue, 07 Jul 2015 12:44:47 +0000http://fortune.com/?p=1201541]]>The city council in Anaheim, Calif., doesn't just control zoning laws and approve a city budget. As the hometown of Disneyland, it also has power over Disney's DIS bottom line.

On Tuesday, the Anaheim city council will convene to discuss the extension of a tax break for the entertainment company, which Disney has enjoyed for almost 20 years.

According to the current deal, Disney would be reimbursed if Anaheim ever levied an entertainment tax on the company (no such tax is currently in place). In exchange, Disney would continue to invest in and expand its entertainment park in the city, where it is the largest employer and property taxpayer.

In requesting an extension of the tax exemption at Tuesday’s meeting, Disney committed to investing an addition $1 billion over thirty years in capital improvements, such as traffic relief infrastructure, a parking structure, and other investments to increase the park’s popularity.

The city expects to enjoy almost $18 million in additional tax revenues thanks to the promised $1 billion investment.